Finish probe against suspended magistrate in 6 mths: High court

CHENNAI: The Madras high court has directed its registry complete the inquiry against a judicial magistrate, who is under suspension for the past 21 months, within six months.

The first bench comprising Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam gave the direction on Friday on a petition filed by the judicial magistrate, S Gunasekar, who was placed under suspension on March 8, 2011 when he was the district munsif-cum-judicial magistrate at Sriperumpudur. The suspension followed allegations of corruption and misconduct.

Gunasekar challenged the prolonged suspension, saying the order to suspend him should have been followed by a charge memo within three months, and the inquiry completed in six months. If it was a vigilance inquiry, it should have been completed in one year. "The order of suspension cannot be extended beyond 90 or 180 days without assigning any reason," he said in his petition.

On Friday, when the matter came up for hearing before the bench, counsel for the suspended judicial officer offered to withdraw the petition as not pressed.

While allowing him to withdraw the plea and dismissing the matter as withdrawn, the judges said, "The submission made by counsel is justified. Therefore, the writ petition is dismissed as having been withdrawn. However, we direct the registry to finalise the draft charges, if any, proceed with inquiry and conclude the same within six months from today."

Besides immediate reinstatement, Gunasekar had sought restoration of his seniority and other service benefits.